Nearly two decades of sustainability work

I am deeply motivated by my care for people and the natural environment. Every day, my driving force is the dedication to mitigating the worst impacts of climate change and I believe that business has the power to make profound positive impacts. Being a sustainability strategist is not merely a job for me; it's a personal mission that underscores the urgency of our collective responsibility to safeguard the planet and ensure that the transition to a net-zero economy will bring about a more equitable society.

I first discovered my impact purpose in a dumpster.

In 2006, after making the leap from the East Coast to the eco-friendly haven of Portland, OR, and a few years in the world of renewable energy marketing, I stumbled upon waste reduction as my portal to a more significant impact in sustainability. It's amusing to reflect on my journey because, seriously, who dreams of a career in trash as a kid? Yet, beyond the joy of dumpster diving (which, by the way, is surprisingly fun), waste reduction, for me, transcended the simple act of recycling. It was about unraveling the intricate life cycle of consumer goods and understanding their profound impact on our environment, a revelation sparked by Annie Lenords' eye-opening book, "The Story of Stuff."

For six years I navigated the path as a small business owner of two waste reduction-focused ventures, Elysium Events and Junk to Funk Trashion Collective.  I then went on to spearhead energy and waste reduction initiatives at the Oregon Convention Center, where we proudly achieved the organization’s goal of LEED Platinum status.

An obsession with sustainable communications and behavior change.

During this time I found myself fixated on unraveling the human side of sustainability. This obsession led me to dive into the realm of communication and stakeholder engagement for the greater good. In 2015, I earned a Master’s in Strategic Communication from the University of Oregon, weaving together CSR, sustainability strategy, and data-driven storytelling throughout my coursework. The pinnacle of my academic journey was the creation of a Best Practices Guide to Sustainable Behavior, a resource that I use to inform my work to this day.

Solidifying my purpose as a sustainability strategist

My freshly earned degree landed me a job with the pioneering group LeanPath, where I led the food waste reduction initiative for our enterprise client, Google Global Food. I helped our client eliminate 2 million pounds of avoidable food waste and reduce food spend by 2.5% in two years. Our efforts also played a pivotal role in shaping its ambitious goal to halve food waste by 2025.

My journey led me to collaborate with Good & Co., where I took the reins in guiding our shared client, Adidas, in establishing best practices for sustainable events. I established sustainable event sourcing policies, consulted on innovative employee engagement strategies and circular solutions, and ultimately helped them achieve zero waste at their internal corporate events.

As a builder and strategist eager to extend my reach into diverse impact areas, I had the privilege of building and leading a holistic sustainability strategy from the ground up for Dutch Bros Coffee, one of the fastest-growing beverage brands in the country. Serving as a trusted thought leader and strategic partner to senior leaders and cross-functional teams in the areas of waste, water, energy, green building, and responsible coffee, I played a pivotal role in laying the foundation for a robust sustainability program that contributed to a top-notch IPO in 2021 and informed our subsequent inaugural ESG report. It was in this role, as Dutch’s Director of Sustainability that I experienced a Goldilocks moment—finding a purpose as a sustainability strategist that felt 'just right.'

A focus on climate, decarbonization, reporting, and change management

The landscape of sustainability is changing rapidly. I’m committed to helping companies reduce their carbon footprint, future-proof against climate risk, achieve sustainability goals, comply with regulations, and build data-driven transparency for ESG reporting. With nearly two decades in this space, as I have navigated the intricacies of organizational change management, I've gleaned a profound understanding that change, in all its forms, is inherently challenging, and sustainability is no exception. My successes have been forged in leading with empathy, facilitating executive alignment, defining the "why" of sustainability, and helping leaders connect the dots between sustainability, business imperatives, and decision-making. This approach has yielded tangible results and has become an indispensable part of my commitment to fostering lasting positive change in the world of sustainability.